A senior tax professional was told "a library is where you read books" while on his way to a meeting about consolidation provisions in the income tax act, an inquiry has been told.
The Disability Royal Commission on Wednesday examined the experiences of people with disabilities in professional industries.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Pini, who has cerebral palsy, has been with the ATO for 33 years.
He recounted the contrast between the positive, supportive and demanding experiences at work with condescending encounters in day to day life.
Mr Pini described ordering a sandwich as the person behind the counter mimed the action of buttering bread.
He told commissioners about less extreme examples such as being referred to in the third person or spoken to in a loud voice.
Mr Pini said he didn't ask for extra assistance when progressing at work because of a sense of independence, but encouraged others to take advantage of available support.
"It's difficult enough as it is getting through any recruitment process, so if there's assistance provided, take it up," he said.
Earlier a litigation lawyer described the internal pressure he felt when breaking in to the competitive industry.
Solicitor with King & Wood Mallesons Oliver Collins was diagnosed with the rare neuromuscular disease Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva at 18 months old.
He said he would not have liked to accept adjustments if they were offered and did not want to stand out from other colleagues.
"With a disability you can sometimes get good at smiling even though you're feeling a bit of pain or you're feeling, you know, a bit uncomfortable," he said.
Mr Collins said it was intimidating going from a small firm to "entering the big leagues" when he did work experience at Mallesons, but welcomed the opportunity he said acted like an extended interview where he could demonstrate his skill.
He said his success gave him a sense of personal achievement and satisfaction.
The commission hearings into barriers to finding work are scheduled to continue all week.
